Weekend reads...Amy Merrick's blog

Amy Merrick is a florist and stylist in New York. Her blog is a beautiful visual feast http://emersonmerrick.blogspot.co.uk/ where she also writes about her work and life.

THE ROSE RONSARD, 1550.

See, Mignonne, hath not the Rose,
That this morning did unclose
Her purple mantle to the light,
Lost, before the day be dead,
The glory of her raiment red,
Her colour, bright as yours is bright?

Ah, Mignonne, in how few hours,
The petals of her purple flowers
All have faded, fallen, died;
Sad Nature, mother ruinous,
That seest thy fair child perish thus
'Twixt matin song and even tide.

Hear me, my darling, speaking sooth,
Gather the fleet flower of your youth,
Take ye your pleasure at the best;
Be merry ere your beauty flit,
For length of days will tarnish it
Like roses that were loveliest.

Spring feeling not outside :( but yes embodied in a dress!

Here in Surrey, UK we have had such grey skies, rainy days and even cold weather!   I hope we will have some beautiful flowers this summer as a result of the abundant rain to make up for this!

Mary Katrantzou
Balalaika Dress
 http://www.lyst.com/clothing/mary-katrantzou-balalaika-dress-multicolour/?utm_source=175903&utm_medium=product&utm_campaign=link

The balalaika is a stringed musical instrument popular in Russia, with a characteristic triangular body and three strings. I remember as a young girl listening to the Balalaika via Microsoft Encarta world music interaction page- Ah Microsoft Encarta, I loved you! Those days of reading, listening and watching through the screen was pure magic.

There is an good article in Tank magazine supplement (Spring 2012) about Mary Katrantzou, it was interesting to learn that while she creates a lot of patterned fashion designs she herself likes wearing black.  She creates lovely patterned dresses and this one reminds me of spring- the spring we should be having in the UK with lots of blooms and lilac-clear evening skies, warm enough to walk around outside without a jacket!! 

Beyond retro

Yes I like vintage clothes very much.....These are two finds from Beyond retro http://www.beyondretro.com/
I hope to receive these in the post soon :)   The magic of vintage is that one can wear unique pieces of unusual/pretty/fabulous prints and designs that may not be easy to find on the high street or in most shops.

I have a fascination for floral print on black/dark colours.  I look forward to late May when can buy lots of peonies and pain them with a rich dark oil colour backdrop........